Genetics and Physiology

Project area B - Genetics and Physiology

Project area B "Genetics and Physiology" constitutes the natural bridge between investigation of Roseobacter clade bacteria in their full diversity and natural habitats down to the examination of the metabolic and regulatory principles of selected strains.

Here, the two selected model organisms Dinoroseobacter shibae and Phaeobacter gallaeciensis are investigated in connection with other thematically appropriate strains. Closely interconnected projects are analysing the energy metabolism and corresponding gene regulatory network of D. shibae with a broad spectrum of physiological, genetic and molecular biology methods.

Further, the pathways of secondary metabolite production with focus on antibiotic or signalling function are of central interest. Roseobacter clade-wide genome based searches and functional investigations will be combined with genetic and chemical studies using the two model systems D. shibae and P. gallaeciensis. Closely related are the questions for quorum sensing compounds and their biological function. The deduction of general principles for the versatile employment of metabolic strategies is envisaged.

b2image2
b4fig1
b4fig2
b4fig3